Tying a Drop Shot Rig

Drop shot rigs are one of the most popular way to fish a plastic bait right now. It is an easy rig to tie and fish, and it catches bass. It is especially good for suspended fish or pressured bass that will not hit any other rig.

The drop shot is simply a way of tying your hook up the line and putting the lead on the bottom. Saltwater fishermen have been using rigs like this for many years. Raising the bait off the bottom gives fish a different look, and it is often easier for them to see it.

The drop shot is best fished on light line and spinning outfits. I fish mine on a 6 foot light action spinning rod with a fast taper and spool the reel with 6 to 8 pound PLine.

Although there are many different specialized hooks and leads available to tie this rig, all you really need is what you have.

Any small worm hook and any kind of sinker will work. I like a 1/0 offset Eagle Claw hook and a 1/8ths to 3/8ths ounce bullet sinker.

Start by tying on the hook using either a Palomar or Clinch knot. Leave the tag end the length you want the worm to be off the bottom. Start at 16 to 20 inches up the line unless you see fish suspended a certain distance off the bottom. If you do, tie the hook that distance up the line.

When you tie the hook on, bring the tag end back through the eye of the hook from the top down, that will make the hook stand out straight. Make sure you pull your knot tight when tying it.

Tie on a weight at the end or simply slide a bullet sinker on the end of the line. Tie an overhand knot right on the end of the line, let the sinker slide back down to it and then peg it with a toothpick. I usually cut the toothpick off even with the lead when using a Texas rig, but I often leave it an inch long or so. That seems to keep it out of rocks better.

Pegging the lead like this allows it to slip off when it gets hung in rocks and you can slip another one on without having to re-tie the whole rig. You can also crimp on a split shot and do the same thing, and you don't have to worry about weakening the line since it will be below the hook.

If fishing open water, hook a small worm on by running the hook thru the nose. If there is brush around the area, you can rig the worm Texas style, making it weedless. Use small worms like Zoom Finesse worms, 4 inch Dead Ringers, Flukes or other similar baits.